Card database → Max Cash Preferred (Elan) vs Chase Freedom Flex
Max Cash Preferred (Elan) vs Chase Freedom Flex
Printed earn rates valued in cents per dollar, side by side — the same math the Credit Upside engine runs on every charge. Card data verified 2026-09-01.
| Category | Max Cash Preferred (Elan) | Chase Freedom Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 3.0¢/$ (3%) |
| Groceries | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Gas | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Travel | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Flights | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Hotels | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Streaming | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Online retail | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Issuer travel portal | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 5.0¢/$ (5%) |
| Drugstores | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 3.0¢/$ (3%) |
| Everything else | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 1.0¢/$ (1%) |
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Statement credits (max/yr) | — | — |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Signup bonus | — | 20,000 after $500/3mo |
| Offer last confirmed | — | 2026-09-14 |
Chase Freedom Flex wins more of the everyday categories (3 of 11), but Max Cash Preferred (Elan) still wins where you might spend most — which card earns more depends entirely on where YOUR money goes.
Point values are Credit Upside's maintained mid-range estimates (). Caps, rotating categories and credit usage change the real answer — the app applies all of them to your actual statement.
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